Punting machine



D. M. PORTER PUNTING MACHINE April 25, 1933.

Enventor (IttornegS.

D. M, PORTER PUNTING MACHINE April 25, 1933.

Filed May 22, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 25, 1933. D PORTER 1,905,352

PUNTING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llIlIIIL-{url nil-UH.

Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES FFICE DAVID M. PORTER, OF HOPKiNSVILLE, KENTUCKY ruiv'rme MACHINE Application filed. Ma 22,

exercise with the use of the machine in the same manner as he would exercise by actual practice of kicking-off or punting in the field.

Among the various objects and advantages of this invention, is to provide a ma chine which is adapted to greatly develop the muscles used in kicking a football and admitting the player to increase his kicking distance many yards; a machine which will produce the same results in a few minutes time as could only be obtained by actual practice in kicking a ball for a relatively long period; a machine which admits of the practice or exercising within a relatively small space, and indoors; a machine by the use of which the player may practice witl out help or assistance such as is required in catching and returning the ball; a machine which is adjustable to players of different heights so as to accommodate different leg lengths; a machine which may also be adjusted as to the resistances imposed upon the muscles so that as the muscles develop greater resistance may be used to further develop them; a machine which is automaticin ac- 'tion so that the motions of kicking the ball may be repeated indefinitely without the necessity of adjustment or'assistance; a machine by use of which the player may develop considerable speed in getting the ball off, and therefore, allow him to stand closer to the line of scrimmage as in using the machine he takes but one step in the initial kicking movement instead of three steps as is usual in actual practice.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a relatively small, compact and economically constructed punting machine of this character which occupies but small space and which may he read ily installed either beneath a floor, or which readily lends itself to mounting in a suitable frame or superstructure provided with a platform, or the like, so that the machine may be made of the portable type.

1931. Serial N0. 539,373.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto. 7

.In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a side elevation of a punting' machine constructed according to the present invention and showing the foot of a player in initial position ready to punt ,or kick a football.

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the foot and the parts of the machine in adjustment such as inthe final upward movement in kicking a football.

Figure 3' is a top plan view of the machine as shown in Fig. l, a platform or flooring being shown fragmentarily for supporting the player.

7 Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken through the upper portion of the machine on the line 4l4 in the position shown in Fig. 2, the dotted lines showing the carriage released for return movement to normal or initial position.

Figure 5 1s a horizontal section taken through the lower portion of the machine on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken. through the rear end of'the machine on the line 66 of Fig. l, and V Figure 7 is a similar view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1. 7

Referring now to the drawings, the machine embodies a support or platform 10 which may be a floor or an elevated platform and'through which is provided a longitudinal slot 11, through which projects one end of a cable or flexible element 12.

The machine proper embodies a box-like frame'13 which as shown is of long, narrow and deep construction. Any other suitable configuration or construction may be provided, however, for supporting the various parts in their proper relation to one another. The top of the frame opens against the under side of the platform 10 and registers.

with-the slot 11. The frame 13 may be constructed of angle iron and provided with inwardly extending and horizontally registering flanges or rails 14 providing tracks for receiving against the upper and lower sides thereof pairs of rollers 15 and 16. The rollers 15 and 16 are mounted upon axles 17 and 18 which are carried in vertically spaced apart relation upon a carriage l9,

and the rails or tracks 14 extend substantially throughout the length of the frame 13 so that the carriage 19 may travel throughout substantially the entire length of the frame 13 and be held against vertical movement, either up or down within the frame.

The carriage 19 is provided with a fork structure 20 at its upper end and within which is mounted a. pulley 21 adapted to freely turn in the fork 20. The cable 12 extends around the under side of the pulley 21 with one end extending upwardly through the slot 11 and is attached. by means of a metal ring 22 to the back portion of a brace 23 of leather or other suitable flexible ma terial which is shaped to the ankle and rear portion of the foot and adaptedto be laced or other-wise suitably secured to the foot.

The other portion of the cable 12 passes rearwardly from the carriage pulley 21 and upwardly over a stationary pulley 24 mounted in the rear end of the frame 13, the cable 12 extending rearwardly and downwardly through an inclined guideway 25 which is of suitable length and which may be connected to the rear end of the casing 13 by a hinge 26, or the like. The rear end of the guideway 25 may be supported upon a frame work or in any other suitable manner to hold the parts in the relative positions shown in the drawings. The guideway, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, com-,

prlses a pair of spaced apart side plates having at their lower edges inturned flanges 27 providing rails for supporting rollers 28 carried by weights 29, 30 and 31. weight comprises a block having a pair of rollers 28 mounted on each end portion thereof and the weights or blocks are provided upon opposite ends with upstanding flanges 32 which are suitably apertured for the reception of the cable 12 therethrough.

The lowermost weight 29 hasits forward or upper flange 32 secured at 33 to the rear end of the cable 12 so that when the cable 12 is drawn upwardly the weight 29 is moved along the rails 27 toward the upper end of the guideway 25. The weights 30 and 31 have their flanges 32 slidably engaging the cable 12, and these weights are spaced apart from each other and from the lower weight 29 at desired distances along the guideway. Buffer or shock absorbing springs 34 are mounted upon certain of the weights and dispose the bufier 34 between the weights when they are brought together so as to Each gradually take up the weights consecutively as the cable 12 is drawn upwardly.

Means is provided for holding the weights in their initialv positions of rest and in the desired spaced apart relation. The lower weight 29 normally rests against a cross bar 35 which is. secured between the sides of the guideway 25 near its lower end and preferably rests across the upper sides of the rails 27. The intermediate weight 30 is provided with a depending finger 36 which is relatively short and adapted to engage a selected one of a number of stop fingers 37 which project radially from different sides of a supporting bar 38, the fingers 37 being disposed in spaced apart transverse planes lengthwise of the bar 38 so that the bar may be adjusted for bringing a selected stop fin er into operative position ito engage the finger 36 and support the intermediate weight at the desired position lengthwise of the guideway 25.

The upper weight 31 carries a relatively long finger 39 which is adapted to engage a selected one of a plurality of relatively short stop fingers 40 which are carried by the bar 38 at opposite sides thereof in line with the respective stop fingers 37. Thus, the upper weight 31 may be normally held in desired position lengthwise of the guideway 25, it will be observed from Fig. 2 that the fingers 36 and 39 of the weights 30 and 31 are of relative lengths as compared with the stop fingers 37 and 40 as to permit the intermediate weight 30 to pass downwardly and freely over the stop fingers 40 while the upper weight 31 is arrested in its downward movement by engagement with a selected stop finger 40.

The bar 38 may be mounted and adjusted l in any desired manner, in the present instance it is provided with a headed pin 41 at its upper end and which engages rotatably through a bracket 42, the head of the pin holding the bar 38 from sliding downwardly. The lower end of the bar 38 is non-circular in cross section and projects through a relatively large socket opening 43 in a depending bracket 44 carried across the under side of the guideway 25. The opening 43 is provided with a shoulder depression having a seat 45 at its lower marginal edge portion into which the low-er side of the bar 38 fits for holding the bar from turning, and

for determining the correct position of the pulley and downwardly from the rear side thereof and beneath and forwardly of a. lower pulley 5O suitably mounted in a bracket 51 in line with the pulley 49.. The cable 47 extends forwardly and upwardly from the pulley 50 and passes upwardly over the forward side of a movable pulley 52 which is mounted on a transverse pin 53 projecting through registering slots 54 which extend longitudinally in a guide bracket 55 carried beneath the frame 13. The cable 47 extends rearwardly from the sliding pulley 52 and passes downwardly about the rear side of a pulley 56 which is mounted in fixed relation in the rear end of the guide bracket 55. The cable 47 thence passes forwardly and downwardly over a fixed pulley 57 carried on the lower end of an arm 58 which projects downwardly on the forward end of the frame 13, the cable 47 thence passing upwardly over pulleys 59 mounted upon the forward end of frame 13 the upper pulley 59 being in line with the upper portion .of the carriage 19. The end ofthe' pulley 47 is secured by means of an eye 60 to the forward end of the carriage 19.

In effect, the cables, or cable sections 12 and 47 constitute a substantially endless connection between the opposite ends of the carriage 19 and the various pulleys and weights which are connected in the chain. The slidable pulley 52 is connected to a weight 61 by means of a cable 62, or other .suitable flexible connection which passes over a fixed pulley 63 carried in the forward end of the guide bracket in line with the slots 54 so as to normally urge the pulley 52 in a forward direction and maintain the cables 12 and 47 taut. It is apparent, that as the upper free end of the cable 12 is drawn upwardly from the carriage 19, as shown in Fig. 2,'the drawing out-of the cable 12 is compensated for by the rearward sliding movement of the pulley 52. The weight 61 is thus brought indirectly into action against the upward pull of the cable 12.

Means is provided for holding the carriage 19 in its forward shifted position. The means, comprises a pair of spring pawls 64 which extend upwardly and rearwardly from the opposite sides'of the carriage 19, or fork 29 thereof, and which yieldingly traverse a pair of opposed ratchet bars 65 carried upon the inner sides of the frame 1.3 in line with the pawls 64. These ratchet bars 65 are disposed only in the forward end of the frame 13, although they may be of any desired length. The teeth of the bars '65 are inclined in a general forward direction so as to admit of the free passage of the carriage 19 forwardly between the bars, and also to interlock with the pawls 64 upon any backward movement of the carriage to arrest such movement and maintain the carriage in its forwardly moved position.

1 Means is provided for releasing the carriage so that it may return to normal positionof rest at the rear end of the frame 13. a

This means comprises hinges 66 which connect the ratchet brace 65 to the sides'of the frame 13. .The braces 65 are normally sup- I ported in horizontal position, asshown in F 4, by bracket arms 67 which are carried 7 upon the inner sides of theframe .13 and engage thelower sides of the brace 65 near their toothed edges. 1

Mounted to turn throughthe side of the frame 13 is a rocker shaft 68 upon the therefrom into a suitable position for grasping to swing the arm 69 and cross rods 70 upwardly to move the ratchet bars 65 into the dotted linelposition shown in Fig. 4, and release the carriage. A stop bracket 72. may be mountedonthe side of the frame 13 in relation to the hand lever 71 for holding the lever in its normal position of rest, and for limiting the turning of the lever when operated.

In operation, the player straps the brace 23 to his foot and stands at the rear end of the frame 13 on the platform 10. The machine has its various parts in normal position of rest at this time, as shown in. Fig. 1. The player 'first kicks forwardly, and this initial movement draws the cable 12 along the frame and raises the lower weight 29 from its stop bar 35, the weight 61 for the sliding pulley 52 being so proportioned as not to yield during this movement but to hold the sliding pulley 52 in place so that it will not slide or yield until the proper time in the kick. Thus, there is a resistance placed upon the forward kicking of the foot but at the same time the carriage 19-is ad'- vanced forwardly into interlocking engagement with the bars 65. Preferably, the weights 29, 30 and 31 are of live pounds'each, though of course, this may be varied to suit conditions. carriage raises the weight 29 into engagement with the weight 30 with the buffer 34 therebetween, and the two weights travel upwardly on the tracks 27 and engage the upper weight 31 so that the resistance to the forward kicking or movement of the player is consecutively increased during such movement. The initial kicking movement brings the lower weight 29 intoengagement with the intermediate weight 30. The parts are This forward movement of the so proportioned that the player has completed the forward step and he now starts the second movement of swinging the foot outwardly, and this second movement meets the additional resistance of the second weight 30. As this second outward movement of the foot is converted into an upward forward movement, such as shown in Fig. 2, the upper or third weight 31 is picked up so that the foot receives the full resistance of the three weights. In addition to this, the upward movement of the foot causes the cable 12 to draw directly upward from the carriage 19 andv this reduces the effective length of the endless cable. This is compensated for by the sliding pulley 52, and the foot in its upward movement therefore must over-come the additional resistance offered by the weight 61.

The main purpose of the sliding pulley 52 is to let the foot move in its arc and pull the weights 31, 30 and 29 up without pulling carriage 19 forward in proportion to the length of the arc. The weight 61 is to hold the pulley 52 in place while the motion of the foot is straight forward thus carriage 19 is drawn forward the same distance andis directly beneath his foot when he starts kicking out.

When he starts kicking out, the resultant of force is such that it puts a backward force on the carriage 19 and the sliding pulley comes into use allowing the foot to move without pulling the carriage forward. The weight 61 is so determined that it will offer enough resistance to the sliding pulley 52 so that it will not move until there is a backward force on the trap and so determined that it will add enough resistance on pulley 52 after the backward force on trap 19 has gone into effect, so that there will still be enough pull on the trap forward that it will move a-little forward, thus when the direction of the foot changes from out to up the trap will be directly beneath his foot and the resistance against the muscles as desired.

The sliding pulley 52 also allows the resistance to be made greater or smaller as desired.

The guideway 25, inowhich the weights 29 30 and 81 run, is fastened to casing 13 by thehinge 26 and may be raised or lowered thus making a steeper or lesser incline for the weights to go up and adding more or less resistance as desired.

When the guideway is raised the cable 47 would have to be made longer if it were not for sliding pulley 52. As it is pulley 52 is drawn forward along slot 54 allowing guideway 25 to be raised to the desired position and wedges put in slots 52 so that axle 53 may rest on them. 7

In the same way guideway 25 may be lowerecl allowing pulley 52 to slide back to its tion when released by the lever 71.

original position and to take up the slack in cable 47.

As soon as the player has finished this operation of kicking he may draw the hand lever 71 backwardly. so as to release the carriage 19 and then may step backwardly to the rear end of the frame 13 as the carriage 19 is moved with the foot under action of the weights. The weights in returning down the guideway 25 to normal position are arrested by their respective fingers 37 and 40 so as to space the weights apart and hold them for a second operation. It is readily seen that it only requires a few seconds time for the machine to assume its normal posi- The player may thus repeatedly perform the necessary operations or movements in practicing punting or kicking a football, and the parts are returned to normal position rapidly after. each kicking operation.

In order to accommodate the time of picking up the Weights to the length of the legs of the player the bar 38 may be adjusted so as to bring the various fingers 37 and 40 into position for use to stop and hold the weights 30 and 31 in the desired spaced apart positions with respect to each other and also with respect to the lower weight 29.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for practicing punting in the game of football, a foot engaging element, resistance means for the element during the initial forward kicking of the foot, means for increasing said resistance means during the subsequent movement of the foot, and additional means for further increasing the resistance means during the final movement of the foot.

2. In a machine for practicing punting in the game of football a foot engaging element, a weight connected to the element to offer resistance to the initial kicking of the foot, a second weight operatively disposed with relation to the first weight to offer increased resistance to the element during the subsequent movement of the foot, and a third weight operatively disposed with relation to the first and second weights to offer further increased resistance to the element during the final movement of the foot.

3. In a machine for practicing punting in the game of football, a foot engaging member, a carriage connected to the member adapted totravel therewith during the initial movement of the foot, means for retarding the movement of the carriage and addil tional means for retarding the upward movement of the foot engaging member when raised from the carriage in the final movement of the foot.

4. In a machine for practicing punting in the game of football, a foot engaging member, a carriage, a cable connected to the forward end of the carriage at one end and slidably engaging'through the carriage at its other'end and connected to the foot engaging element, resistance means connected to said cable for retarding the longitudinal displacement of the cable and the movement of the carriage, and additional resistance means connected to the cable for retarding the upward movement of the foot engaging element from the carriage.

5. In a machine for practicing punting in the game of football, a foot engaging element, a carriage, a cable connected at one end to the forward end of the carriage and slidably engaging through the carriage at its other end, bafiie means supporting said cable, said other end of the cable connected to said foot engaging element and adapted to be drawn with the carriage by the initial movement of the foot, weights connected to said cable for retarding the movement thereof, said foot engaging element adapted to be swung upwardly from the carriage for drawing the cable therethrough without moving the carriage, and compensating means connected to the cable for retarding the upward movement of said foot engaging element.

6. In a machine for practicing punting in the game of football, an elongated frame, a carriage mounted to slide in the frame, a cable connected at one end to the forward end of the carriage, supporting means for the cable, a guideway at the rear end of the frame, a plurality of weights slidably mounted on the guideway and means for holding the weights at spaced apart points along the guideway, the other end of said cable connected to the lowermost weight and a second cable connected at one end to said foot engaging element and slidably engaging through the carriage and connected to said weights for successively picking up the weights during the forward and upward movements of the second cable.

7 In a machine for practicing punting in the game of football, a foot engaging element, a cable connected at one end to said\ element, a plurality of weights threaded upon the cable and adjustable means for holding said weights normally in desired spaced apart relation for consecutively picking up the weights during the movement of said foot engaging element.

8. In a machine for practicing punting in the game of football, a foot engaging element, a cable connected to said foot engaging element for longitudinally shifting by the movement of the element, means for resisting the movement of said cable, and yieldable compensating means connected to the cable for maintaining the same taut during operation of said foot engaging element.

DAVID M. PORTER. 

